Tent with automatically storing window and door coverings

ABSTRACT

A tent having an automatically stored window covering. As a window for the tent is moved from a closed position, where a fabric cover covers the window opening, to an open position, where the fabric cover is partially or fully removed from the opening, the fabric cover automatically stores itself. The only use effort to both open and store the fabric cover is in opening the fabric cover.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/979,023, filed Oct. 10, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to fabric structures, and more particularly to a tent having window and/or door coverings that store automatically when the covering is moved from a closed position to an open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tents are portable structures made of lightweight, often waterproof, fabrics. Typically, a tent is a collapsible shelter of polyester or other material stretched over and supported by a frame, such as one or more poles. Tents are used for camping outdoors, or as temporary structures. Tents come in a variety of shapes, including dome and cabin style tents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description of some embodiments that are presented later.

In accordance with an embodiment, a tent is provided having an automatically stored window covering. In an embodiment, as a window for the tent is moved from a closed position, where a fabric cover covers the window opening, to an open position, where the fabric cover is partially or fully removed from the opening, the fabric cover automatically stores itself. In an embodiment, the only user effort to both open and store the fabric cover is in opening the fabric cover.

In an embodiment, a fabric cover automatically rolls as the window is opened. This rolling feature may be provided, for example, by plastic or metal springs that are attached to or embedded in the fabric covering and that are biased into a rolled configuration.

In accordance with an embodiment, a fabric cover includes accordion-type pleats and elastic drawstrings. The elastic drawstrings, when released, pull the accordion-type pleats together, closing the fabric cover. The fabric cover is automatically stored in this position due to the elastic nature of the drawstring. In an embodiment, the drawstring may be cinched to fully close the fabric cover into a storage position.

In an embodiment, a tent window may include an autowind reel with a fabric cover mounted on the reel. A user may pull the fabric cover against the tension of the autowind reel to close the opening, or may activate the autowind reel to close the fabric covering into a storage position.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tent in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view representing a front view of a window for the tent of FIG. 1, the window having a fabric cover that is partially rolled down;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view representing a front view of the window of FIG. 2, which the window further rolled down;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view representing a side of the window in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a window in accordance with another embodiment, the window having an accordion-type pleated fabric cover;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the window of FIG. 5, with the fabric cover in a partially opened position;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the window of FIGS. 5 and 6, with the window covering in a fully opened position; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of another window covering in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described. In addition, to the extent that orientations of the embodiments are described, such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “right”, and the like, the orientations are to aid the reader in understanding the embodiment being described, and are not meant to be limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a tent 20 in accordance with an embodiment. The tent 20 shown in the drawings is a cabin style tent, although features of the invention may be used in different models of tents, whether dome, another type of free-standing tent, cabin, or other models. Thus, although described with reference to the ten 20 and other tents herein, the invention may be utilized with many different tent structures and may also be used in fabric structures other than tents, such as shelters. However, the invention has particular relevance to family camping tents, such as conventional cabin style tents or free-standing tents. By “free-standing,” we mean tents that may be assembled and that are self supporting without guy lines or stakes. An example is a dome tent. Again, although particularly relevant to family type of free-standing tents, aspects of the invention may be used in other style tents or in other fabric structures.

The tent 20 includes walls 22 and poles 24 for supporting the walls and the tent in a manner known in the art. By “walls,” for embodiments, we include the typical walls of the tent and portions of the tent that might typically cover the top of the tent. A door 26 and a window 27 are provided for the tent 20. The window 27 may be positioned, for example, on one of the tent walls 22. In accordance with an embodiment, as described below, the window includes a fabric covering that automatically stores itself upon the window being opened.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a window 30 that may be utilized for window 27. In the embodiments described herein, the windows, such as the window 30, are openings in the tent that typically have a screen material. That is, the side walls 22 include an opening that may be filled with the screened material, although not necessarily so. For the embodiment of the window 30 shown in FIG. 2, the screen material is depicted by the reference numeral 33. However, as described above, a window may not necessarily include screen material, or may include other material that provides an opportunity for light, rain and/or air to enter the tent when the fabric material is removed from over the window opening so that the window is opened.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, a fabric cover 34 is used to close or cover the window opening of the window 30. When closed over the window 30, the fabric cover 34 reduces the entry of outside light, rain and/or air through the window. The fabric cover 34 may be, for example, made of the same material as the side walls 22, or may be any suitable fabric or cloth that is flexible and that may be moved to cover the opening for the window 30, and then may be moved away so as to open the window. The fabric covering typically extends over the inside of the window, although it may alternatively extend over the outside.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the fabric cover 34 is releasably attached along its side edges to the side walls 22, and is permanently attached along a bottom edge of the window opening. A fabric cover 34 may be releasably attached in different locations than the side edges, and may be permanently attached in different locations.

In the embodiment shown, the side edges are attached by zippers 36, each of which includes a zipper pull 38. Different closure mechanisms may be used, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, loop and toggle fasteners, clips, clasps, or other suitable closure mechanisms.

As described above, the fabric cover 34 includes a mechanism for automatically storing the fabric cover when the fabric cover is partially or fully opened to provide access to the window opening for the window 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fabric cover 34 includes plastic springs 32 extending along outer edges of the fabric cover 34. The plastic springs 32 may alternatively be positioned at some point intermediate of the side edges; or only one plastic spring or more than two plastic springs may be used. As an example, a window may be shaped as a triangle with an upper apex and a single plastic spring may extend from a lower portion of a window covering to the apex.

The plastic springs 32 may be, for example, any material that has a bias towards a rolled configuration. The spring 32 need not be plastic, and could be spring steel or other suitable metallic material, a composite material, memory plastics, or any other structure that may be formed with a bias towards a rolled position. The material is preferably corrosion resistant. An example of a configuration of the springs 32 in a relaxed state is shown in FIG. 4.

When the zippers 36 are closed, the plastic springs 32 are held straight against the bias of spring toward the rolled configuration. When the zipper pulls 38 are pulled downward to open the zippers 36, the plastic springs 32, because of their bias towards a rolled configuration, begin to curl in a rolled configuration, such as the furling of a sail. This rolling or curling continues as the zipper pulls 38 are pulled downward, causing the fabric cover 34 to roll into a tight, compact, elongate cylinder.

When the fabric cover 34 is rolled part way down, such as is sown in FIG. 2, there is no loose material hanging, but instead the material is looped by the bias in the plastic springs 32 into a tubular configuration at the top of the zipper pulls 38, as is shown in FIG. 2. Continuing to pull the zipper pulls 38 downward as shown FIG. 3 causes a larger wrapped tubular configuration of the fabric cover 34.

The springs 32 provide convenient, automatic storage of the fabric cover 34, and may continue to do so until the zipper pulls 38 are pulled to the bottom of the zippers 36. In this matter, the fabric cover 34 is automatically stored in a convenient configuration, and does not have to be tied or otherwise fastened to keep the fabric cover from sagging or drooping into the inside of the tent 20. As the fabric cover 34 is stored, the height of the window that is exposed and open in increased.

The springs 32 may be sufficiently flexible so that they do not hinder tent storage. Alternatively, the springs 32 may be removed for storage.

Other mechanisms may be used for providing automatic storage of a fabric cover for a tent window. For example, for the window 40 shown in FIG. 5, a fabric cover 42 includes accordion-style pleats 44. As is known, accordion pleats are a basic form of pleat, consisting of a series of permanent folds of equal width in alternating opposite directions. Openings 46 are positioned along side edges of the pleats. Drawstrings 48 extend down opposite side edges of the fabric cover 42 in and out of adjacent openings 46 so that adjacent folds for the accordion pleats 44 are positioned on opposite sides of the drawstrings 48.

The drawstrings 48 in an embodiment are elastic or another type of material having an elastic property. Mechanisms are provided for extending and holding the drawstrings in a taut position. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the mechanisms are hooks 50 positioned on the ends of the drawstrings 48 and eyelets 52 to which the hooks attach when the fabric cover 42 extends fully over the opening for the window 40.

To release the fabric cover 42, a user simply releases the hooks 50 from the eyelets 52. The elastic nature of the drawstrings 48 draws the accordion pleats 44 upward and to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2. A user may simply release the hooks 50 from the eyelets 52, fallowing the fabric cover 42 to spring upward, or may raise the hooks after release and until the drawstrings are relaxed. With the hooks 50 released and the drawstrings relaxed, approximately half of the opening for the window 40 is exposed, and the fabric cover 42 is stored in this position without loose hanging material.

To fully remove the fabric cover 42 from the opening of the window 40, the drawstrings 48 may include a cinching mechanism, such as barrel locks 54 (FIG. 7), to permit the accordion pleats 44 to be cinched upward to the position shown in FIG. 7. In this position, the opening for the window 40 is fully exposed. To close the window again, the cinch locks 54 are moved back to the end of the drawstrings 48, towards the hooks 50, bringing the fabric cover 42 back to the position shown in FIG. 6. The hooks 50 may then be pulled downward against the elastic tension in the drawstrings 48, and may be hooked on the eyelets 52. In this position, the accordion pleats 44 hang freely downward and cover the opening for the window 40.

In an embodiment, the fabric cover 42 and associated drawstrings 48 do not include large, rigid components, and thus to not impede storage of the tent 20.

The drawstrings 48 may alternatively be inelastic cords, strings, or straps. Such an embodiment may utilize a lock, such as a barrel lock, to lock the drawstrings in position.

An additional embodiment of a window 60 is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, an auto wind reel 62, such as is used in conventional home blinds, is positioned at a top of the opening for the window 60. The fabric cover 64 is wrapped around the auto wind reel 62. A string 66 is positioned at the bottom of the fabric cover 64 and may be used to pull the fabric cover 64 downward. The auto wind reel 62 includes a tension mechanism that biases the wheel in a rotational direction. As is known in the art, such a wheel may include a locking mechanism so that a user may lock the fabric cover in place to a particular position. In addition, by pulling downward on the string 66, the auto wind reel 62 may be engaged, pulling the fabric cover fully up around the auto wind reel.

If desired, the auto wind reel 62 may be removable to penult efficient storage of the tent 20.

The embodiments described above are advantageous in that they do not require tying, wrapping, rolling, or other steps of storage for a fabric cover for a tent window. Thus, a user may quickly open the window without having concern for loose fabric of the fabric covering hanging on the inside of the tent.

Although described as being used to cover a window 27 in a tent 20, the embodiments described herein may be used with any fabric structure, including a shelter. In addition, the window features described herein may be utilized on a covering for a window on a door, or to automatically store a covering for a door.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as it if were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein of otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein other otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 

1. A fabric structure, comprising: a window having a window opening; and an automatically stored fabric cover for the window opening.
 2. The fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the fabric cover moves between a first position where the fabric cover covers the window opening, to a second position, where the fabric cover is partially or fully removed from the opening, and wherein when the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position, the fabric cover automatically stores.
 3. The fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the fabric cover automatically rolls as the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position.
 4. The fabric structure of claim 3, wherein automatic rolling is provided by springs that are attached to or embedded in the fabric covering and that are biased into a rolled configuration.
 5. The fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the fabric cover includes accordion-type pleats and elastic drawstrings, and wherein the elastic drawstrings, when released, pull the accordion-type pleats together, opening the fabric cover.
 6. The fabric structure of claim 5, further comprising a cinching mechanism on each drawstring that may be cinched to fully move the fabric cover into a storage position.
 7. The fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the window may include an autowind reel with the fabric cover mounted on the reel.
 8. A fabric structure, comprising: a door having a door opening; and an automatically stored fabric cover for the door opening.
 9. The fabric structure of claim 8, wherein the fabric cover moves between a first position where the fabric cover covers the door opening, to a second position, where the fabric cover is partially or fully removed from the opening, and wherein when the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position, the fabric cover automatically stores.
 10. The fabric structure of claim 8, wherein the fabric cover automatically rolls as the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position.
 11. The fabric structure of claim 10, wherein automatic rolling is provided by springs that are attached to or embedded in the fabric covering and that are biased into a rolled configuration.
 12. The fabric structure of claim 8, wherein the fabric cover includes accordion-type pleats and elastic drawstrings, and wherein the elastic drawstrings, when released, pull the accordion-type pleats together, opening the fabric cover.
 13. The fabric structure of claim 12, further comprising a cinching mechanism on each drawstring that may be cinched to fully move the fabric cover into a storage position.
 14. The fabric structure of claim 8, wherein the window may include an autowind reel with the fabric cover mounted on the reel.
 15. A tent or shelter, comprising: a frame structure for permitting the tent or shelter to be erected in a usable position; at least one wall supported by the frame structure; an opening in said at least one wall for a window or a door; and an automatically stored fabric cover for covering the opening.
 16. The tent or shelter of claim 15, wherein the fabric cover moves between a first position where the opening is covered by the fabric cover, to a second position, where the opening is partially or fully exposed and not covered by the fabric cover, and wherein when the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position, the fabric cover automatically stores.
 17. The tent or shelter of claim 16 wherein the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position in a generally horizontal direction.
 18. The tent or shelter of claim 16 wherein the fabric cover moves from the first position towards the second position in a generally vertical direction. 